Linking digital and physical non-fungible items

Abstract

The technology relates to a technique for representing a unique physical asset such as a smartphone with a unique (singular) digital asset such as a non-fungible token (NFT). The NFT and related metadata can be stored on a blockchain to verify ownership of the digital asset. In one example, the NFT is produced based on a unique identifier (IMEI) for the smartphone. Other examples of physical assets with unique identifiers include automobiles, real property, etc.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for linking digital and physical non-fungible items performed by a computer program executing on an electronic device, the method comprising:
 generating a first identifier for a physical item;   receiving a confirmation from a first cryptography-based storage application on a user device or the physical item;   extracting from the confirmation a second identifier related to the first identifier for comparison against the first identifier to determine ownership of the physical item;   based on the comparison, confirming the first cryptography-based storage application is owned by a user who owns the user device or the physical item;   generating a first cryptographic token based on the first identifier,
 wherein the first cryptographic token is associated with a first entry in a metadata database; 
   committing the first cryptographic token to a blockchain;   assigning the first cryptographic token to the first cryptography-based storage application;   requesting a profile of data on the physical item at regular intervals of time,
 wherein the profile of data describes a plurality of resource allocations to the physical item; and 
   storing the profile of data in the metadata database.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first cryptographic token authenticates login requests at the physical item, the method further comprising:
 receiving a login request for accessing the physical item,
 wherein the login request includes an address associated with the first cryptography-based storage application and a cryptographic signature generated using a private key of the first cryptography-based storage application; 
   determining, using the cryptographic signature, that the first cryptography-based storage application controls the first cryptographic token; and   granting access to the physical item responsive to the login request.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first cryptography-based storage application is stored on the physical item. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first cryptographic token authenticates login requests for the metadata database. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the metadata database stores data describing the physical item, the data comprising:
 a location of the physical item;   usage by the physical item of network resources; and   identifying information of the user.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 determining to revoke the first cryptographic token; 
 using a cryptographic operation, assigning the first cryptographic token to a null address; and 
 removing the first entry from the metadata database. 
 
     
     
         7 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform operations comprising:
 generating a first cryptographic token,
 wherein the first cryptographic token is generated using a unique identifier of a physical item; 
   committing the first cryptographic token to a blockchain;   assigning the first cryptographic token to a first cryptography-based storage application of a first user;   receiving a shipping request for the physical item from a second user, the shipping request including a physical address of the second user;   transmitting a request for transferring the physical item to the physical address based on the first cryptography-based storage application;   causing a transfer of the first cryptographic token based on the request for transferring the physical item;   receiving a login request for accessing the physical item,
 wherein the login request includes an address associated with the first cryptography-based storage application and a cryptographic signature generated using a private key of the first cryptography-based storage application; 
   determining, using the cryptographic signature, that the first cryptography-based storage application controls the first cryptographic token; and   granting access to the physical item responsive to the login request.   
     
     
         8 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 7 , wherein the first cryptography-based storage application is stored on the physical item. 
     
     
         9 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 7 , wherein the first cryptographic token is associated with a first entry in a metadata database and authenticates login requests for the metadata database. 
     
     
         10 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 9 , wherein the metadata database stores data describing the physical item, the data comprising:
 a location of the physical item;   usage by the physical item of network resources; and   identifying information of a first user.   
     
     
         11 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 9 , the operations further comprising:
 receiving a request for a replacement of the physical item from the first cryptography-based storage application;   using a blockchain operation, verifying that the first cryptographic token is assigned to the first cryptography-based storage application; and   generating a second physical item and a second unique identifier corresponding to the second physical item.   
     
     
         12 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 11 , the operations further comprising:
 generating a second cryptographic token based on the unique identifier,
 wherein the second cryptographic token is a non-fungible token, and 
 wherein the second cryptographic token is associated with the first entry in the metadata database; 
   committing the second cryptographic token to the blockchain; and   assigning the second cryptographic token to the first cryptography-based storage application.   
     
     
         13 . A method for linking digital and physical non-fungible items performed by a computer program executing on an electronic device, the method comprising:
 generating a first identifier for a physical item;   receiving a confirmation from a first cryptography-based storage application on a user device or the physical item;   extracting from the confirmation a second identifier related to the first identifier for comparison against the first identifier to determine ownership of the physical item;   confirming the first cryptography-based storage application is owned by a user who owns the user device or the physical item based on the comparison;   generating a first cryptographic token based on the first identifier,
 wherein the first cryptographic token is associated with a first entry in a metadata database; 
   committing the first cryptographic token to a blockchain;   assigning the first cryptographic token to the first cryptography-based storage application;   receiving a request for a replacement of the physical item from the first cryptography-based storage application; and   using a blockchain operation, verifying that the first cryptographic token is assigned to the first cryptography-based storage application.   
     
     
         14 . A method for linking digital and physical non-fungible items performed by a computer program executing on an electronic device, the method comprising:
 generating a first identifier for a physical item;   receiving a confirmation from a first cryptography-based storage application on a user device or the physical item;   extracting from the confirmation a second identifier related to the first identifier for comparison against the first identifier to determine ownership of the physical item;   confirming the first cryptography-based storage application is owned by a user who owns the user device or the physical item based on the comparison;   generating a first cryptographic token based on the first identifier,
 wherein the first cryptographic token is associated with a first entry in a metadata database; 
   committing the first cryptographic token to a blockchain;   assigning the first cryptographic token to the first cryptography-based storage application;   receiving, from the first cryptography-based storage application, a request for transference of the first cryptographic token,
 wherein the request for transference indicates a destination cryptographic address corresponding to a second cryptography-based storage application; 
   verifying that the first cryptographic token is assigned to the first cryptography-based storage application using a blockchain operation; and   assigning the first cryptographic token to the second cryptography-based storage application at the destination cryptographic address.